TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Indonesia urges all countries to maintain rule of law in maritime disputes
Change Size
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) speaks with French President Francois Hollande (center) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as they take part in a photo session for world leaders at the G7 Summit in Ise-Shima in Mie prefecture, Japan, on Friday. (AFP/Jim Watson)
I
ndonesia has reinstated its call on Asian nations to maintain the rule of law in settling any international dispute, including maritime territorial spats in the South China Sea and tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
The statement was made by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo during the first session of the G7's outreach meeting on Friday, which involves a number of non-member Asian countries, including Vietnam -- one of the most vocal claimants in the South China Sea disputes.
G7 leaders have agreed on Thursday that it was necessary for them to send a strong message over maritime disputes in the South China Sea amid China's increasing assertiveness in the region.
Asia, Jokowi said, should not be an arena for global powers to project their influence.
"Indonesia would like to stress that all countries should respect international law with no exceptions," said Jokowi who was one of the lead speakers in Friday's outreach meeting session in Ise-Shima, Japan.
Indonesia, which is a non-claimant state in the disputed waters, argued that a military approach would only create conflict and spark partisanship.
Global governance should involve more emerging countries since bipolar power rivalries were no longer relevant today, Jokowi added. (dmr)
